Federal authorities announced Wednesday the first-of-its-kind task force in New York that, they say, will combat transnational criminal organizations in the Big Apple.

Officials said the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) in New York, led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI, was created to combat what the agencies say is a rise within the United States, including drug trafficking, money laundering, weapons trafficking, human trafficking, alien smuggling, homicide, extortion, kidnapping, and more.

The task force was formed during a period when the NYPD has reported record-low shootings and murders in New York year-to-date. Though crime is down across New York City, federal officials — including U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton — insist cri

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